4 post lift stability?

[Lynnhowlyn]

OK - I was talking with my neighbor and we got to talking about lifts - 2 post vs. 4 post .... pro's and con's. And he raised a question re: 4 posts that I've not seen discussed.

It's a given that many (most) 4 post lifts can be moved - if desired - using a variety of casters and wheelie-type things either supplied by or as options from the mfgr. And therefore many/most 4 post lifts are NOT bolted to the slab.

Does that mobility result in any reduced stability when there's a vehicle hoisted on the lift?

I'm NOT referencing lack of stability because of trying to move the lift with a vehicle on it - but rather with the lift in place and OFF the casters, or whatever.

My lift is gonna have my '03 Dodge RAM 2500 Diesel on it periodically - and stability for the lift with the Dodge up there is pretty important.

Thoughts/comments?

Many thanks

Lynn

 

[Shocker]

Nope. Steady as a rock.

 

[hilld]

You can also bolt a 4 post to the floor, just use drop in anchors (basically a nut in the concrete), this way you don't have anything sticking out of the ground and you don't have to worry about lift moving as you drive on or off it.

 

[mikeyr]

my lift was really solid in my old garage, on my new garage the floor is sloped and the lift is a little less stable but its still rock solid, no worries.

 

[MrNailhead]

What brand 4 post lift does everyone like or recommend?

 

[Cryptic1911]

if you don't bolt it down, its going to have some movement.. it isn't going to fall over, but bolting it down should make it plenty solid

 

[SMLDONZI]

My bendpak is very solid when loaded with a vehicle. It seems to more rigid with a heavier vehicle. I have an older Eagle that is substantially less rigid and it never concerned me at all. Neither are bolted down.

 

[m.james]

They are all steady if you install them right and it's very hard to really mess that up if your paying attention.

 

[JMURiz]

My bendpak is very solid when loaded with a vehicle. It seems to more rigid with a heavier vehicle. I have an older Eagle that is substantially less rigid and it never concerned me at all. Neither are bolted down.

When it's down and unloaded it seems wobbly, but when a car is on it...even a 2000lb car, it seems way more solid.
I'm new to my BendPak HD-9, but it seems stable enough thus far.

 

[vettesplus]

i have mine bolted to the floor, just for a piece of mind. i had it free floating for the first year, never had a problem with it moving....

 

[TagMan]

I had a '55 Buick almsot fall off my BackYard Buddy 4-poster a few years ago, which was not bolted down. The rear left tire was hanging in mid-air with the post under the fender well and the only thing keeping the car from falling off the lift was a 12"x12"x24" hardwood block that the frame rested on when the car slipped. The lift never wavered a bit, even when several friends helped moved the car back on the ramps, which took a couple of hours.

 

[DARK AGE 53]

The heaviest vehicle I've had on my BYB lift is my Tahoe, no problems.

 

[sperkins]

4 post is great for basic service as long as you have a center jack.
I've had my 4-post for 3 years now and literally use it every day. It is especially useful for doing alignments and corner balancing for my race car.
I now wish I had a 2-post lift for the major suspension/driveline work I've been doing recently.

My race car weighs in at just under 3,000lbs. I don't know if I'd trust my lift with a 3/4 ton pickup truck on it. I can't even get my crew cab Nissan Titan on it.

BTW - you can't move most 4-post lifts with a vehicle rasied on it since the frame of the lift must be lowered to activate the casters.

 

[Wardrum]

In addition to my '57 which weighs about 3,600#, I also use my BYB lift to service and repair my Kubota tractor which weighs about 6,400#. Never a problem with either. As others have said, the lift will move a little as you run it up or down. Mine is not bolted down but, once the locks are locked, it is rock solid.

 

[e-tek]

Vettesplus, sperkins and Wardrum - AWESOME shots of your places and cars!!!!!! I love the shot of the Vetteplus' car being worked on: with the wheels off, the lift mid height and the chair!! Sperkins 69(?) vert is awesome - totally what I want - soon! And Wardrum's 57 - looks so cool with the floor painted like that - fanastic work!

 

[66dave]

I installed a bendpak HD9XW last month and love it! I bolted mine down for saftey, but it was steady when it was loose, just paranoid I guess. If you get a BendPak let me know I got a few tips to make it a fun quick job.

 

[Wardrum]

Vettesplus, sperkins and Wardrum - AWESOME shots of your places and cars!!!!!! I love the shot of the Vetteplus' car being worked on: with the wheels off, the lift mid height and the chair!! Sperkins 69(?) vert is awesome - totally what I want - soon! And Wardrum's 57 - looks so cool with the floor painted like that - fanastic work!

Thank you sir